I blog to you today from the road while we journey from Atitlan to Antigua as the “kids” play I spy.  Oddly leaving the lake feels much like you do after you’ve had a really great trip but you can’t wait to be home in your own bed.  To me Antigua feels like going home.  My trips to Guatemala began with the duo (Kianna and Michael) and they have evolved over the years with different people and combinations of people joining in.  It’s always fun to see how the combination of people will meld not just in the easy fun times, but even more so during the bumps that can happen along the way with international travel (luckily we haven’t had many). This year we have Elissa (Kianna’s roommate) joining our story in our travels and she couldn’t be a better fit.  I am grateful for kind girls who exemplify what it means to just be good people. A highlight for me so far on our journey (aside from “I spy”) happened our first night at the lake. Nicole and I were upstairs getting settled into the house and the kids were all downstairs, and I hear them say to each other “what were your peaks and valleys of the day.” This truly touched my heart that they not only thought to do it (something we’ve done on all our trips) but that they chose to reflect on the day on their own without having to be prompted. More gratitude is something I want to ensure we all walk away from our trips with, not just of the big things like being able take this trip, but for the effort of others that goes into making our food, or carrying our bags up the hill,  or driving us safely. The mindset that we get to do things and try things not that we have to.  Acknowledging our privilege and being gracious in how we receive or experience things from others along our journey is a lesson for us all.